Filling-replenishing loom.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

A. E. STAFFORD. FILLING REPLENIS HING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 19 02.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

v IIEI IIIIIHII HII ii llllllllll Inn-l E a! No. 727,014. PATENTBD' MAY 5, 1903. A. E. STAFFORD.

FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMJ APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m-aeases, Mere $7;

- Patented May 5, 1903.

ALFRED E. STAFFORD, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF TION OF MAINEf HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- FILLING -REPLENISHING LOOM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 727,014, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed January 13,1902; Serial No. 89,409. No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hopedale, county of lrVorcester, State of Mas- I 5 sachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Automatic Filling-Replenishing Looms, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

Looms provided with automatic filling-replenishing mechanism have heretofore been equipped with two independent devices to detect failure of filling, one of such devices controlling the operation of the replenishing mechanism and arresting the operation of the take-up. Inasmuch as this detecting device operated only on alternate picks, the second detecting device was employed to detect failure of filling on the other picks, and it was so connected with the take-up mechanism that the operation of the latter would be arrested upon detecting action, thus insuring arrest of the said mechanism when either device detected filling failure to prevent the formation of thin places in the cloth. Such apparatus forms the subject-matter of United States Patent No. 659,628, dated October 9, 1900,

and the particular form' of take-up mechanism provides also for let-back at the times.

The shuttle employed with filling-replenishing mechanism of the type shown in United States Patent No. 529,940 is provided with an automatically self-threading device at the end adjacent the thread-eye, and such end is the one nearest the outer end of the feederor hopper of the replenishing mechanism, which latter is usually located at the right-hand side of the loom. In actual practice itsometimes happens that the filling breaks in the shed when the shuttle is traveling from right to left, and the end trailing from the shuttle will operate to tilt the fork of the detector at the left-hand side of the loom just as if the filling were intact; but on the next pick, the eye end of the shuttlethen leading, the trailing end of filling will be drawn out of range of the right-hand fork, and thelatter will detect filling failure. Such detection, however, only operates to arrest the take-upin the apparatus illustrated in Patent No. 659,628 on proper the detected pick, and when the shuttle is next shot across the loom from right to left the trailing end is apt to again tilt the fork at that side, so that no change of filling is effected, and this maycontin ue for a number of picks until the trailing end of filling fails to tilt'the fork which controls the replenishing mechanism. The loom continues to run with the filling broken, and take-up is arrested every alternate pick only, so that when finally the filling is replenished and filling is again laid there will necessarily be a thin place in the cloth, and the longer the replenishing is delayed the greater will be the extent of such thin place.

- In this invention, which relates particularly to automatic looms provided with two detecting devices, I have provided means to insure the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism upon filling failure, no matter whether detected by eitheror both of the detecting devices, thereby rendering impossible the delay in replenishing such as hereinbefore referred to and thin places resulting therefrom.

In accordance with my present invention the operation of the replenishing mechanism is directly controlled by one of the filling-detectors, as heretofore; but the detecting action -of the other detector operates in an indirect manner to insure the actuation of the replenishing mechanism by or through the first-mentioned detector whether or not the latter detects the failure. The take-up mechanism, only a very small portion being herein illustrated, is controlled by both detectors, so that upon detection of filling failure by either detector take-up is arrested, substantially as in Patent No. 659,628.

The various novel features of my invention will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view, centrally broken out, of a portion of a loom provided with filling-replenishing mechanism and embodying one form of my present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on .the line 2 2, Fig. 1,looking toward the left,

rier.

shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section on the line t 4, Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lay A shuttleboxes B B thereon, the automatically selfthreading shuttle S having a thread-eye at its right-hand end, and the breast-beam A having at one end the usual notched holding-plate N for the shipper S and at the other end supporting the filling-replenishing mechanism comprisinga transferrerf and a feeder F to contain a supply of filling-carriers b, may be and are all of well-known con-.

struction and operate in usual manner.

Any suitable take-up mechanism is included as a part of the organized loom-such, for instance, as shown in United States Patent No. 643,284only the end a, of the pawlcarrier being herein shown, Fig. 2, having an upturned portion a, by which, as will be described, the operation of the take-up is arrested upon filling failure.

The controlling rock-shaft d, which governs the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism in well-known manner, is mounted in bearings 20 and has fast upon it an upturned arm d, having a lateral head d adjacent the outer end of a slidef longitudinally movable in a guide f transversely secured upon the breast-beam. A filling fork or detector f of usual construction is pivot-ally mounted on the inner end of the slide, the tail f being adapted to cooperate in usual manner with a notch 7 of the hook to of the weft-hammer W upon failure of the filling to tilt the fork, the said hook having a second notch 8, Fig. 4, for a purpose to be described. If the filling is not in front of the fork when the shuttle is in the box B, Fig. 1, the fork will not be tilted, and the slide f is moved outward, acting, through the arm (1, to rock the shaft (1' and effect a change offilling in well-known manner, and this direct acting mechanism is located at the left side. of the loom, and for convenience this istermed the main filling-detector. Rocking of the shaft (1' in the direction of arrow 25, Fig. 2, as described, also acts, through a depending arm d fast on said shaft, to move the take-up pawl-carrier a to disengage the pawl from the usual ratchet, thereby arresting the take-up and permitting let-back,if the take-up mechanism is of that type, a lateral lug d on the arm 61 engaging the upturned end a of the pawl-car- A stand 9 secured to the breast-beam on the replenishing side of the loom, Fig. 1, has longitudinally movable lhereina slide g provided with an auxiliary filling detector or fork and when upon absence of filling the latter is not tilted its tail 9 is engaged by the hook w of a weft hammer or actuator W and the slide g is moved outward. The outer end of the slide engages the upper end 61 of an arm (1 loosely mounted on the rock-shaft d, between two collars 16 17, fast thereon, the collar 17 having a shoulder 18 in the path of a shoulder d on the hub of arm 01 the latter being held against the slide by a spring s Enough lost motion between the shoulders d and 18 is permitted to effect the rotative movement of the rock-shaft d upon outward movement of the slide g sufficient to arrest the operation of the take-up mechanism, but without turning said rock-shaft far enough to effect the operation of the replenishing mechanism. Thus outward movement of either slide f or g will control the take-up mechanism and arrest its, operation.

Sometimes when the filling fails as the shuttle is traveling to the box B the trailing end will be long enough to engage and tilt the fork f, so that filling replenishing will not be effected, while on the next pick the fork g will detect the failure and arrest the take-up. This detection is due to the fact that when the shuttle is in the .box B the thread-eye is nearest the outer end of the box and the trailing filling isdrawn out of the path of the detectorg and the slide g is moved outward, rocking shaft d and also moving the arm doutward. Ihave provided means herein whereby whenever the auxiliary detector detects filling failure the main detector-slide will be operated to effect filling replenishing whether or not the main for-k f is tilted, thus overcoming the objection referred to. A slide-bar e is mounted on the stand f at one side of the slidef and held in placepartly by a bracket e secured to the stand, and partly by a pivotal connection 6 between the outer end of the slide-bar and the upper end d of the arm (1, Figs. 2 and 3. A dog 6 is fulcrumed at e on the slide f and extends rearwardly above the hook w, said dog having secured to it a yielding tongue 6 bent laterally at e to normally rest on thettop of the slide-bar e, the latter constituting a detent to normally maintain the dog inoperative. When the shaft (1 is rocked by outward movement of the slide g as described, the movement of arm at is sufficient to draw the detent e outward far enough to release the tongue 6 and the dog 6 drops, so that its tip will engage the notch 8 of the hook 10, thus constituting a connection between the slide f and weft-hammer W entirely independent of the detector f, and the slide f will be moved outward by the weft-hammer to thereby cause the operation of the replenishing mechanism. The inner end of the detent e is beveled, as at 22, Fig. 2, to pass under the offset 6 and thereby lift the dog 6 into inoperative position when the detent resumes its normal position relative to the dog.

Of course when the detector f detects filling failure the hook and tailf will cooperate to effect movement of the slide f but if the detector fails to detect then the proper movement of the slide is insured by the cooperation of the dog 6 and the hook w, filling replenishing being effected in either case. The outer end of the tongue 6 is free and enters a hole 6" in the dog to permit compression of the tongue against the under part of the dog when the latter is in engagement with the hook w, because the outward movement of the slide f restores it to its normal position relative to the detent, the offset e sliding up the incline 22 onto the top of the detent, and the instant the hook relaxes its pressure on the dog the latter is lifted by the tongue into inoperative position.

I have so constructed. the slide and parts cooperating therewith that if the replenishing mechanism is operated a predetermined number of times in succession the loom will be stopped automatically. To this end the open slide f has a cross-barf Fig. 4., which supports a longitudinally movable trip h,hav-' ing'its inner upturned end 72/ in the path of the weft-hammer and provided near its outer end with a depending lug 77?, which rests against an abutment f forming a part of the stand f 'An enlargement h on the trip normally supports a cam lump 70 on the under side of a'finger k, fulcrumed at e on the slide. and having its outer depending end 7c offset and hanging over the side ofthe stand. This end 70 is normally above a knock-off lever' 71, fulcrumed at 'n on the breast-beam, Fig. 1, and adapted to release the shipper from its holding-notch. The trip It has a recess 72, in its upper face at its outer end,which is normally coveredbya shield f forming a part of the slidef and a detent-pawlf ,'fulcrumed atf on the bracket e ,normally rests on the shield above the recess, as in Fig. 4. Thefirst time theslidef is moved ontthe camlump will be moved toward the outer end'of the enlargement h ,the trip having been held from movement by the abutment f and when the slide moves in the trip moves with it, the finger 70 still being held up above the knock otf lever. The recess 71 is then exposed, owingto the relative change in position of the trip h and shieldf", and if the slide is moved out on the next detectingpick the shield passes from under the pawl f and the point of the latter enters the recess 7L3 and stops the trip, while the slide continues to move. 7 This causes the cam-lump la to drop off the enlargement 71. and the finger 7c descends, but

in front of the knock-off lever. The slide re+ turns, the trip moving with it, and the shield lifts the pawl out of the recess h While the finger 7c rides up over the knock-off lever and drops behind it, so that if a third outward movement of the slide takes place the knock-- off lever is turned by the finger 1: shipper is released to stop the loom.

If the shuttle threads properly after the first or second operation of the replenishing and the mechanism, the weft-hammer will act uponthe upturned inner end It ofthe trip to return it to the position shownin Fig. 4, mov-' ing the finger it into inoperative position thereby, and the same action of the wefthammer restores the trip to normal relative position on the slide when the loom is started after it has been stopped, as described.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as the same'may be modified or rearranged in various particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loom, take-up mechanism, two filling-detectors, connections between them and the take-up mechanism, to arrest the operation thereof upon detection of'filling failure, filling-replenishing mechanism, one of the detectors directly controlling the operation of the same, and means whereby detection of filling-failure by the other detector insures the operation of the detector which directly controls the replenishing mechanism.

2. In aloom, two filling-detectors, filling-replenishing mechanism the operation of which is directly controlled by one detector and indirectly by the other through the first-named 'detector,upon detection of filling failure,takemain detector, means operative by or through detecting action of the auxiliary detector to cause filling replenishing through the operation'of the'main detector, take-up mechanism, and independent connections between it and said filling-detectors, to arrest the operation of said take-up mechanism upon detectionof filling failure by either detector.

' 4. In aloom, two filling-detectors located at opposite sides of theloom, filling-replenishing mechanism directly controlled as to its operation by one of said detectors'and indirectly by the other detector but through the firstnamed detector, upon detection of filling failure, andtake-up mechanism the operation whereof is arrested by or through detecting action of either filling-detector.

5. In a loom, two filling-detectors located at" opposite sides of theloom and adapted to detect filling failure on alternate picks, fillingreplenishing mechanism controlled as to its operation by one of said detectors upon detection of filling failure thereby, means actu loom,'directly controlled by the detector at the other side, means actuated by detecting action of the detector nearersaid'meclianism to cause the operation of the latter by or through the directly controlling detector, take-up mechanism, and independent connections between it and said detectors, to arrest the operation of the take-up mechanism upon detection of filling failure by either detector.

7. In a loom, two filling-detectors, a slide for each, and an actuator for each slide, to move the latter operatively upon detection of filling failure, filling-replenishing mechanism the operation whereof is directly controlled by operative movement of one of the slides, means governed by the other detector upon detection thereby of filling failure to cause operative movement, by its actuator, of the directly-controlling slide, to thereby effect through said slide the actuation of the replenishing mechanism,and take-upmechanismthe operation of which is arrested by or through operative movement of either slide.

8. In a loom, a main filling-detector, its slide, an actuator to move the latter-by or through said detector upon detection of filling failure, an independent and normally in-' operative connection between the slide and its actuator, filling-replenishing mechanism whose operation is effected by said slide, an auxiliary filling-detector, means governed by detection thereof of filling failure to render operative said independent connection, and thereby cause filling replenishing by movement of the said slide, take-up mechanism, and controlling connections between it and the main and auxiliary filling-detectors.

9. In a loom, a main filling-detector, its slide, an actuator to move the latter by or through said detector upon detection of filling failure, an independent connection between the slide and its actuator, a detent to normally maintain said connection inoperative, filling replenishing mechanism controlled by or throughthe slide, an auxiliary fillingdetect0r, means governed by detecting action thereof upon filling failure to withdraw the detent and render said independent connection operative, whereby the slide will be moved to effect the actuation of the replenishing mechanism, and take-up mechanism controlled by or through both of said fillingdetectors.

10. In a loom, a main filling-detector, its.

slide, an actuator to move the latter by or through said detector upon detection of filling failure, a dog on the slide, to cooperate with the actuator, a detent to normally maintain the dog inoperative, filling-replenishing mechanism the actuation of which is effected through operative movement of the slide, an auxiliary filling-detector, means governed by detecting action thereof upon filling failure to withdraw the detent and permit cooperation of the dog and actuator, to thereby effect operative movement of the slide and cause filling replenishing, and take-up mechanism controlled by or through both of said fillingdetectors.

11. In a loom, two filling-detecting devices to detect filling failure on alternate picks, filling-replenishing mechanism the operation of which is directly controlled by one of said devices upon detection of filling failure thereby, normally inoperative means forming a part of said device to effect filling replenishing upon detection of filling failure by the other detecting device, controlling connections between the latter and said means, to render said means operative upon such detection of filling failure, and take-up mechanisin the operation of which is arrested by or through filling failure detected by either of said detecting devices.

12. In a loom, stopping means, filling-replenishing mechanism, means, including a main filling-detector, to efiect the operation of said mechanism upon detection of filling failure by said detector, and to operate the stopping means after a predetermined number of successive operations of said mechanism, an auxiliary filling-detector, devices operative by or through detection thereof to cause actuation of the replenishing mechanism through the means including the main detector, and take-up mechanism the operation whereof is arrested upon detection of filling failure by either detector.

13. In a filling-replenishing loom, in combination, filling-replenishing mechanism, take-up mechanism, two filling-detectors to detect filling failure on alternate picks, and means in connection with and operated by or through said detectors to arrest take-up and control the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism when absence of filling is detected by either detector.

14. In a loom, two filling-detectors located at opposite sides of the loom, filling-replenishing mechanism controlled as to its operation by or through said detectors upon detection of filling failure by either, and takeup mechanism the operation whereof is arrested by or through detecting action of either filling-detector.

15. In a filling-replenishing loom, in combination, filling-replenishing mechanism arranged to effect the replenishment of the running filling-supply, take-up mechanism, filling-detectors at opposite sides of the loom, a rod or rock-shaft extending across the loom and having in connection therewith means operated thereby to arrest take-up and occasion the action of the filling-replenishing mechanism, and means operatively connecting said rod or rock-shaft with both of said filling-detectors whereby said rock-shaft is operated when either detector detects the absence of filling.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED E. STAFFORD. 

